I was particularly drawn to an old post on “Zombies, Technology, and Capitalism,” because of Pearce’s use of the zombie metaphor in depicting some of the recent trends in higher education. He states rather eloquently:

The very general thrust is that VLEs (such as Black(magic)board, and VOODLE) replace face-to-face ‘human’ learning with undead digital teaching. These VLEs have rapidly spread across the sector (virally?) without being explicitly demanded by either teachers or students. The embedded pedagogy of these VLEs is restrictive and they offer a level of social control and conformity not possible with more traditional teaching practices.

In Pearce’s words, the Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) of today’s academy sap the human element out of the classroom (or computer screen in this case). He also likens these new forms of “teaching” to new forms of social control; I am pushed to think about Foucault’s notion of discipline creating docile bodies amongst the student body, or Marcuse’s one-dimensional man.

I find this depiction of higher education as an inherently “zombifying” institution very interesting. For those of us who work in the academy and teach classes, the notion of higher education creating student zombies (or researcher zombies) is very appealing. Who among us does NOT get frustrated at our students’ general sense of apathy and passivity in the classroom? Who among us does NOT feel slightly overwhelmed with all the general administrative duties and academic requirements that our schools now place on our shoulders? And who among us does NOT tire of giving multiple choice examinations rather than more creative forms of assessment and pedagogical instruction? I know I tire of all these things. Perhaps you do too?

I often feel like I am teaching a classroom full of zombies…

Maybe the zombie has a place alongside the cyborg as a metaphor for the human condition in contemporary society. If we conceptualize the zombie as the passive, non-responsive, human-slave, then this metaphor may be apt—this is the traditional figure of the zombie in Haitian folklore and early cinema. Or perhaps the more contemporary figure of the zombie as one of rabidity, infection, and “rage” (as epitomized by Boyle’s 28 Days Later) is more appropriate? Either way, I think the zombie metaphor is a powerful symbol of mass society, something that the cyborg—in all its individuality and flesh-machine symbiosis—lacks.

Comments 14

replqwtil — May 25, 2011

I agree that there are some very interesting allusions to the Zombie image as a metaphor for our society's apathy and docility. In some ways it reminds me of Baudrillard's description of the Masses, as a force which sucks the life out of everything which enters it. A kind of undead scenario.

However I think that, in terms of social control, it might be more fruitful to view members of society instead as cellular automata, cells which make up the Social Body. Rather than simply sapping them of will, education is used to Program students as such, so that they may respond to social stimulus in the appropriate manners and enact Circuits in the service of manifesting the Social.

I see the concept of Cells as closer to the reality of life in the social than Zombies, due mostly to the sheer interconnectedness of individuals, something I feel as though Zombies lack... Perhaps there is an in-between here however that I am glossing over in my haste...

Dave Paul Strohecker — May 25, 2011

I like your allusion to Cells, but it sounds a little too much like structural functionalism to me. Although both metaphors capture some elements of the contemporary social body, I think we are lacking an analysis of agency. That is, how to people become agents and act spontaneously against the "programming" and "apathy" they have been inculcated into? We are lacking a more nuanced discussion of how individuals develop critical consciousness and act out of step with social norms and precepts.

Dave Paul Strohecker — May 25, 2011

I agree with you on this point. Perhap's Bourdieu's notion of "field" is a more apt concept, although it is also somewhat fuzzy. I do find myself employing his game metaphor for understanding social behavior. If we see society as a game in which everyone is making individual "moves" to better their position, then agency seems more readily apparent. But I do agree with you that what appears agentic is often anything but. My own research on tattooing points to this trend. Where is true agency? I would say agency lies in the critical praxis of the individual. In Friere's terms this means the simultaneous action and reflection of the always-thinking subject. But maybe this is the problem. Nobody can be "always-thinking," and perhaps this is where the metaphor of the zombie comes in handy. When we are not engaging in critical thought and action, are we simply moving throughout the social world as zombies, following the prescribed paths and maneuvers set by the larger culture?

Dick van Rambo — May 26, 2011

What we have here in America is NOT capitalism. Its actually very socialist in nature but its just "dressed up" to look "capitalist". When corporate banking intrests own both houses in congress and law after law is passed to stop all competition, that's not capitalism. When huge multinational off shore conglomerates have special weivers exempting them from the rules us little neofeudal peasants have to abide by and the federal government doles out money to help keep these corporations,many of which pay no taxes at all mind you, it is not a capitalist society that we live in. If anything it a corporate welfare/fascist state.

College, a oligarchical top down power structure pushing out little close minded obsolete automatons in a post post post modern, post industrial world...

Save your money, make something, provide a service, don't pay taxes,don't fight their stupid wars, don't participate in their system turn you back on it all and live outside the box.

When Romero made Night of the living dead he said the zombie hoard represented the threat of communism....Now were using it to describe brain dead comatosed worker ants in a fake capitalist system where the entire game is rigged in the favor of the ruling class..Same as in a socialist utopia. haha go figure.

Dick van Rambo — May 26, 2011

Society isn't a "game". Society and I almost would argue civilization (in its current western form) in general, is more of a prison yard or work farm. The walls holding everyone in place are "law", media,culture, which is by the way almost entirely constructed in boardrooms now here in the west and the soap opera know as "politics". All of those elements are part of a top down command and control apperatus. Anyone who's ever done any time can identify this truth. You are not a member of society, or even a willing participant you are merely human capital that's being farmed. You are a prisoner.

Dave Paul Strohecker — May 26, 2011

Dick, your extreme libertarianism comes off as somewhat callous. I think you are confusing socialism (as its occurred in history) with theoretical socialism, the kind that exists as an "ideal" type, in abstraction only. The hope of socialism (and Marxism and neo-Marxism and oldschool libertarianism) is its promise of humanity, its promise to remove oppression and free individuals from structures that alienate them. And Dick, I feel you are completely writing off agency, something we are trying to develop here. The zombie metaphor is indicative of those moments when we are NOT engaging in a critical praxis, when we are NOT engaging in critical thought and action. But that does not mean that agency is nonexistent.

nathanjurgenson — May 26, 2011

dave, how is "zombification" similar/different from Weber/Ritzer's theory of rationalization of society (and thus people; what Ritzer calls "non-people")? does the term provide something new?

also, perhaps closer is the Frankfurt school's view of mass-consumer-society/culture industry turning people into mindless passive apolitical people easily controlled. interesting similarities/differences? (instead of "braaiiins" it is "cooonsuuummee")

Prompt Communications — August 22, 2011

[...] as broad as humanity and technology themselves, with story hooks ranging from augmented reality to zombification. Page back and again you’ll unearth some absolute gems to tell all your friends about – [...]

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About Cyborgology

We live in a cyborg society. Technology has infiltrated the most fundamental aspects of our lives: social organization, the body, even our self-concepts. This blog chronicles our new, augmented reality.